10 July 2024
Deputy Prime Minister of
Russia and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev
chaired a meeting in Vladivostok on the preparations for the Eastern Economic
Forum 2024. The meeting dealt with organizational issues and the progress made
towards the holding of this year’s event.
“We are less than two months
out from the 9th Eastern Economic Forum, the importance of which for
the macro-region is difficult to overestimate. Millions of roubles have been
invested into the Russian Far East as a direct consequence of the Forum. The
Eastern Economic Forum is attended by tens of thousands of people every year.
Russia has reoriented its focus in economic relations to the East, and the
Forum is held in the very centre, in the heart of the Asia-Pacific. This places
special demands on the work we are doing,” Yury Trutnev said to open the
meeting.
Deputy Director of the
Roscongress Foundation and Director of the Eastern Economic Forum Igor Pavlov
reported that, on the whole, preparations are proceeding as usual, according to
key dates approved by the Organizing Committee. Falcon Day will take place on
the opening day of the Forum. Invitations to the event have been sent out and
participants are confirming their attendance.
Governor of Primorye Territory
Oleg Kozhemyako and Mayor of Vladivostok Konstantin Shestakov talked about the
preparations being made in the region and the city for the Eastern Economic
Forum, which include repairing the guest route, improving the embankment on the
territory of Far Eastern Federal University, holding cultural and sports
events, and providing medical support for the Forum. As part of the maintenance
of the road network, damaged sections of roads have been repaired, traffic flow
has been optimized on the main and alternative routes, and contracts for the
improvement of the roads on the bridge across the Golden Horn Bay and the
replacement of damaged railings on the Funicular have been concluded.
Improvements are being made across the city. Waste is being cleaned up, green
spaces manicured, and flower beds planted. Since early summer, more than 500
trees and 1,300 shrubs have been planted in the city, and a further 2,000
plants will be added before the Forum opens. More than 100,000 bushes have been
sculpted. Work is under way to clean storm drains.
Far Eastern Federal University
Rector Boris Korobets reported on the preparations being made on the campus and
territory of the university.
“The Eastern Economic Forum is
a seminal event for the Far Eastern Federal University. This is an opportunity
for the university to host one of the most important international events, make
its mark as a centre of science and education in the Asia-Pacific, and showcase
the environment that has been created in Russia for young people,” Boris
Korobets said.
Preparations of the Far
Eastern Federal University are moving along as planned: landscaping work is
nearing completion, as is renovation work on the academic, administrative and
hotel buildings. “By the time the Forum kicks off, some 1,200 hotel rooms will
have been renovated. It is important that all of these investments work to
create a comfortable living environment for our students and staff. Far Eastern
Federal University is renowned for its unique campus right on the Pacific
Ocean, and annual renovations ensure that it remains among the best in the
world,” the university’s rector explained.
The 2024 Eastern Economic
Forum’s cultural programme includes concerts and exhibition events, performance
from the rich repertoire of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, jazz
evenings at Nagorny Park, and performances by troupes and solo artists on the ‘Far
East Street’ exhibition. The main stage of the exhibition will feature a
concert by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, with special guest performers and
singers from the People’s Republic of China. The pavilion hosted by Primorye
Territory will offer daily matinee and evening programmes based on maritime
themes. This year’s event will also see the first ever Fish Market on the ‘Far
East Street’ exhibition in the form of food trucks offering samples of fish
products made by Far Eastern companies.
The sports programme includes
the ‘We Preserve’ race, Ready for Labour and Defence Week, international rowing
competitions, a chess tournament, and the Russian powerboating cup. The third
Vladivostok International Regatta will also take place during the Forum, moving
from its previous location at Novik Bay to the centre of the city, with Russky
Bridge serving as the finish line. Crews from China, North Korea, and Russia will compete
in the event. Minny Gorodok park will be turned into a venue for equestrian
competitions. More than one hundred athletes from Russia’s Far Eastern regions
will compete in the Eastern Economic Forum Show Jumping Cup.
Volunteers are being recruited
and trained for the Forum. Some 2,500 volunteers are currently registered in Primorye
Territory, including 1,000 from outside the region. Training courses and exams
have been held at Far Eastern Federal University, as have workshops on sanitary
and epidemiological issues. The Roscongress Foundation website offers online
training with a final exam to determine how well volunteers have mastered the
material.
“As always, we are very
meticulous in our preparations for the Forum. On the whole, the mood is no
different than before any other Eastern Economic Forum: we are working together
to try and ensure that it continues to be a place where new decisions that will
contribute to the development of the Russian Far East are made. Everyone who is
gearing up for the Eastern Economic Forum has to ask themselves how we can make
the Forum better, more interesting, and more meaningful,” Yury Trutnev
concluded.
The 8th Eastern
Economic Forum was attended by more than 7,000 people from 62 countries and
territories. The business programme contained over 100 sessions. The largest
delegations were sent by China, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Laos, and
Mongolia. A total of 373 agreements worth a cumulative 3.818 billion roubles
were concluded on the sidelines of the Forum.
